Local Music – Ontarians – Open Mics – Pubic Art – Gayety Theatre – BMFF
A void quickly being filled
Yes it’s official, Steve Vipond, the legendary live-music promoter who regularly brought many juno-award-winning musical acts to Southern Georgian Bay — and the former owner of Crow Bar and Variety, Bruce Wine Bar, and the founder of the Bruce Street Social Club — is moving to the Gulf Islands, BC, leaving a bit of a void in the local music scene that is quickly being filled.
“Truth be told,” he says candidly, “music isn’t a big money maker. But I would not have changed a thing. The people I’ve met through music have changed my life, and we had some really good times.”
Enter some of our region’s other legends — and a long list of venues stepping up to offer shows and open mics — and Southern Georgian Bay’s scene is picking up where it left off pre-Covid, assuming restrictions allow it. Jeff Woods, host of the hugely popular Records and Rockstars radio show and podcast, is now hosting live acts at his 24-person studio near Blue Mountain on a twice monthly basis.
“I have a long target list of artists I want to bring up here for intimate performances,” he says. Woods’s rolodex is impressive, so expect some excellent talent coming through the Wild Woods Blue Performance Studio. And Jeremy Rhodes, founder of the world-wide non-profit organization Elephant Thoughts, has purchased a church in Flesherton, where he will be hosting intimate shows and open mics. The church will also feature art, and so has been named “I Arted in a Church,” which, although a mouthful for a name, is also good for a chuckle.
Collingwood Brewery, which has a spectacular outdoor space for large concerts, is hosting a regular open mic on Sundays indoors — capacity 30 people — and a plan for larger outdoor events during the warmer months.
Over in Owen Sound, The Heartwood has an ongoing line-up of quality, groovy local and out-of-town acts as well. And while this list is by no means comprehensive — we can’t not mention the Village at Blue Mountains’ Après Your Way series, with local acts at many of the venues at the village all winter, every day after skiing — we think it’s safe to say local music will thrive even in a post-Vipond world. But he will be missed. — Staff
The Ontarians.
The Greatest Short Story Never Told
Speaking of local music acts that frequent the Collingwood area, we’d like to draw some attention to the Ontarians, featuring local favourites Craig Smith, Frank Deresti, Jay Stiles, and Chris “Taco” Johns, who recently released The Greatest Short Story Never Told.
Set to sweeping, gracious melodies, floating slide guitar, soothing keys and strings, Smith and Deresti’s harmonious lyrics lift the listener to wistful road trips, sunny meadows, and dreams of what could be. Keep an eye out for them at a venue near you.
Live Music
Here’s where to catch live music in Southern Georgian Bay. Check the websites below for more information. The Facebook page titled Collingwood Local Music is also a good resource when planning attendance to upcoming events.
Collingwood
Harbour Street Fish Bar
www.harbourstreetfishbar.com
Simcoe Street Theatre
www.creativesimcoestreet.ca
Huron Club
www.thehuronclub.ca
Black Bellows
www.blackbellows.com
Collingwood Brewery
www.thecollingwoodbrewery.com
The Blue Mountains
The Corner Cafe and Grill
www.cornercafegrill.ca
The Village at Blue Mountain
www.bluemountainvillage.ca
Meaford
Meaford Hall
www.meaford.ca
The Leeky Canoe
www.theleekycanoe.ca
Owen Sound
Heartwood Concert Hall
www.heartwoodhall.ca
This is not a comprehensive list, and we apologize in advance to any venues we may have missed. Fear not, we will be covering the local music scene in many upcoming issues. If you would like your venue to be included in future editions, please email us at readermail@onthebaymagazine.com.
Public Art: A Blaze of Colour
It’s big, it’s bright, and it depicts a young person’s experience growing up in Collingwood. This new permanent piece of public art in the downtown is entitled “Growth,” and it’s the creation of Toronto-based artist Blaze Wiradharma, who specializes in large hand-painted murals on buildings. His latest work here stretches 14 metres down an alley on the east side of Hurontario Street.
Aerosol spray cans are his medium of choice as he blends colours in a graffiti-inspired style. The mural includes landmark buildings, flowers, forests, fish, and fun activities, all melded into a flowing scene that stretches down the alley. He says his favourite paintings are those with a personal connection.
“Every single thing in this mural has something that I experienced growing up in Collingwood,” he says, “From jumping off the pier, fishing, just being outdoors all the time.”
Wiradharma’s work can be seen on buildings across southern Ontario. His personal favourite is a 10-metre portrait of his sister, entitled “Day Dream.” He created the painting on a building in Harriston during a mural festival there.
His artwork here in Collingwood was commissioned by the Downtown BIA with financial support from the province. The goal is to make a publicly-owned walkway more welcoming, while creating connections between the main street and downtown parking areas.
Live Entertainment
By Dean Hollin
Speaking of local music acts that frequent the Collingwood area, we’d like to draw some attention to the Ontarians, featuring local favourites Craig Smith, Frank Deresti, Jay Stiles, and Chris “Taco” Johns, who recently rel
One of Southern Georgian Bay’s Grand Dames of brick, mortar, velour and bright lights is poised to make another flashy and flourishing entrance. Collingwood’s Historic Gayety Theatre has been excitedly promoting “new ownership” — in a roundabout way.
While local businessman Sid Dickinson retains ownership of the building itself (something he’s owned since late 2002), theatrical entrepreneur Joseph Patrick, along with his team of award-winning entertainment professionals, is pleased to be assuming the responsibility of programming and other such theatre-related activities.
Truthfully, there’s been a lot of “live entertainment” chatter within the Southern Georgian Bay community these days — and many entertainment spaces eager to make the same grand entrances! Rest assured that the folks behind each one of the area’s stages are ready to push the “GO” button as soon as it’s safe to do so. And what with live indoor gatherings being a rather sparse happenstance these past 24 months, it seems there might be an even more fervent crowd at the door these days, clamouring to get in.
There are a lot of details to be considered: capacity and its current limits; scanners and spacing; location; to build or not to build; size, design, and permits; content — and of course, the players themselves, all of which are part of the conversation. There are a lot of moving parts when it comes to the production of live entertainment, and half-houses are often not enough to keep the machine going. So, here’s the deal. If, within this world of apps and virtual everything, seeing a live body on a stage, singing, speaking, moving in some artistic and talented way is an experience you love – buy a ticket as soon as you’re able. Buy two. Heck, buy ten. The entertainment community will love knowing you’re there and ready to make your entrance!
BMFF
By Laurie Stephens
The best of international and Canadian cinema is coming to Blue Mountain Village this spring, adding depth to the region’s already rich and diverse entertainment culture.
Blue Mountain Resort is hosting the inaugural Blue Mountain Film Festival, an intimate and immersive event from June 1-5 that will feature 50 screenings of 25 international and Canadian films, guest appearances by filmmakers, directors and actors, and a “creative forum” for the film industry that will also be open to the public.
The Festival recently announced the hiring of Helen du Toit as its executive and artistic director. Du Toit has 30 years of experience in film festivals around the world, including more than 10 years at the helm of the prestigious Palm Springs International Film Festival.
“Palm Springs is a big event and we were known really for the best in international cinema,” says du Toit, who has also been involved with the Toronto International Film Festival. ”So, largely because that is my personal passion, we really want people to see the best of world cinema, and that’s what we’ll be showing.”
What makes film festivals so special, says Du Toit, is the intimate bond that develops between the audience and the filmmakers who are present to discuss their films.
“Sometimes you go to films and you think ‘Why did they say that in the story, or why did they do it this way?’ And you can unpack all of that with the filmmaker.”
The epicentre of the Festival will be the Blue Mountain Village Conference Centre. It will host 10 screenings per day at one of its two ballrooms. Du Toit says the Festival will be seeking volunteers in the spring.
Film-makers wishing to submit a feature film or short can do so beginning January 10, 2022. Submissions close in March.
